Analysis of Virginia Woolf's 'The Lady in the Looking-Glass' and Themes in 'A Shocking Accident'

The Lady in the Looking-Glass

A story by Virginia Woolf that explores perception and truth through the reflection of Isabella Tyson.

Isabella Tyson

A wealthy, solitary woman in her 50s or 60s, representing the unknowability of inner selves.

Appearance vs. Reality

A major theme where the mirror reflects physical truth but hides emotional truth.

The Illusion of Knowledge

The narrator's imagination fills gaps about Isabella's life, showing how little we can know about others.

Isolation and Loneliness

Isabella appears connected yet is ultimately revealed to be empty.

Perception and Truth/Reality

Woolf questions whether observation can lead to understanding, filtered through imagination.

Key Events in The Lady in the Looking-Glass

Description of the room and mirror, speculation about Isabella's life, arrival of the mail, Isabella appears in the mirror, final revelation.

Narrator in The Lady in the Looking-Glass

An anonymous third-person observer, likely omniscient but limited by imagination.

Overall Takeaway of The Lady in the Looking-Glass

The story exposes the emptiness behind social appearances using the mirror as a symbolic device.

A Shocking Accident

A story by Graham Greene about Jerome, whose father dies in a bizarre accident involving a pig.

Jerome

A sensitive boy haunted by the absurdity of his father's death, ultimately becomes an accountant.

Mr. Wordsworth

Jerome's housemaster who awkwardly delivers the news of the accident.

Sally

Jerome's fiancée whose compassionate reaction redeems the story's absurdity.

Absurdity of Life and Death

A major theme highlighting how death can be random and ridiculous.

Public vs. Private Grief

Jerome's pain is mocked by others, showing society's mishandling of tragedy.

Love and Acceptance

True love is shown when Sally responds with empathy instead of humor.

Key Events in A Shocking Accident

Jerome learns of his father's death, the absurd cause is revealed, struggles at school, aunt retells the story, Sally's compassionate response.

Narration Style in A Shocking Accident

Third-person limited omniscient, focused on Jerome's perspective.

Overall Takeaway of A Shocking Accident

Greene explores human sensitivity, showing that others' responses define empathy and love.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things, without using 'like' or 'as'.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.

Foreshadowing

A hint or clue about what will happen later in the story.

Hyperbole

An intentional and extreme exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Basic MLA In-Text Citation Format

(Author Last Name page#)

Titles in Writing

Italics for books, movies, plays; quotation marks for short stories, poems, songs.

Important Events in Lord of the Flies

A plane crashes, Ralph and Piggy meet, the conch is found, boys elect Ralph as chief.

Key Characters in Lord of the Flies

Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Simon.

Themes in Lord of the Flies

Civilization vs. savagery, need for leadership, fragility of order.

Loss of innocence

Boys' treatment of Piggy; Ralph's maturation.

Fear

Begins to influence behavior.

Chapter 3 - Huts on the Beach

Ralph and Simon work on huts; most other boys shirk responsibility.

Jack's obsession

Becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting.

Ralph and Jack's argument

Argue over priorities (shelter vs. meat).

Simon retreats

Retreats into the forest to a peaceful, almost spiritual place.

Shelters

Protection, civilization; quite literally symbolize structure.

Forest Glade

Simon's place in the woods/amongst the creepers; symbolizes peace, natural goodness.

Growing tension

Between order (Ralph) and savagery (Jack).

Isolation and inner peace

Symbolized by Simon.

Chapter 4 - Painted Faces and Long Hair

Boys' appearance changes as hair grows longer → sign of decline of civilization.

Jack paints his face

Loses personal identity, becomes more savage.

Signal fire

Let go out while a ship passes the island.

Face Paint

Loss of identity; liberation/devolution into savagery.

Long Hair

Deterioration of civilized behavior.

The Beast

Evolves as a concept — fear becomes internal, not external.

Assembly Platform

Structure, debate, failed democracy.

Fear as a tool

Fear as a tool of power.

Chapter 6 - Beast from Air

A dead parachutist lands on the mountain, mistaken for the beast.

Parachutist

Represents the adult world's violence; war; human evil.

Castle Rock

Symbolizes power, violence, savagery.

Chapter 8 - Gift for the Darkness

Jack challenges Ralph for leadership and fails.

Lord of the Flies

Represents evil, savagery, and the darkness within humans.

Simon's death

Loss of innocence; the death of goodness and truth.

Glasses

Symbolize intelligence, science, power.

Conch shell

Losing its power.

Chapter 11 - Castle Rock

Ralph and Piggy confront Jack's tribe to demand the glasses back.

Conch shell shattering

Total collapse of civilization and democracy.

Ralph hunted

Ralph is hunted like an animal by Jack's tribe.

Naval Officer

Represents adult civilization and irony.

Sonnet Structure

14 lines, 3 Quatrains; 1 rhyming couplet.

Augment

To make larger, increase.

Meticulous

Extremely careful; particular about details.

Craven

Cowardly; a coward.